CATARACTS

Your eye has a clear lens through which light passes, allowing you to see. When the lens loses its transparency, the cloudy tissue that develops is known as a cataract.

Cataracts cause progressive, painless loss of vision. The lens clouds naturally as we age, so people over the age of 60 usually see a gradual reduction of vision. No one is exactly sure what causes cataracts. In younger people they can result from an injury, certain medications, or illnesses such as diabetes. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light may also play a role in the formation of cataracts. Studies have also shown that people who smoke cigarettes have a higher risk of developing cataracts than non-smokers.

SYMPTOMS

Although cataracts usually develop without apparent pain, some indications that a cataract may be forming are:

Blurred or hazy vision

Double vision

Poor vision in bright light

Seeing halos around lights

Yellowish tinged vision

Night vision difficulty

SURGERY

If visual impairment interferes with your ability to read, work, or do the things you enjoy then you will want to consider cataract surgery. Surgery is the only proven means of effectively treating cataracts. Cataract surgery is a relatively painless and is one of the most frequently performed procedures. It has a very high success rate and more than 90 percent of cataract surgery patients regain useful vision.

Dr. Shipp performs the modern technique of clear cornea, topical anesthesia, cataract surgery through a small incision. This state of the art procedure does not require any shots or stitches. Since there are no shots given, patients are not required to wear a patch after surgery. Our patients may return to most activities with very few restrictions the afternoon of surgery. Many of our patients may not require the use of glasses for distant vision following this state of the art cataract surgical procedure.